The role of colon fibroblasts in malignant large bowel obstruction--an experimental in vitro model

The mechanism of bowel obstruction in colorectal cancer is likely to involve interactions between tumour cells, host fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix. The role of fibroblast-mediated matrix reorganisation in malignant structures of the large bowel was examined in an in vitro collagen matrix model in which tumour cells and fibroblasts were cultured under serum-free conditions. Colon cancer cells secreted a factor(s) which enhanced the ability of colon fibroblasts to contrast a collagen matrix without an associated mitogenic response by the fibroblasts. Within uncontracted collagen gels marked elongation of fibroblast cell processes was observed in the presence of the tumour-derived factor(s). We propose that matrix reorganisation by host fibroblasts in the wall of the human colon is responsible, at least in part, for malignant large bowel obstruction.